Al Sadd’s star striker Hassan Al Haydous has been a prominent player in Qatar for many years. He recently captained Qatar to the Asian Cup triumph.
Al Haydous has been playing a pivotal role for Al Sadd for long and contributed to The Wolves’ big victory over Al Khor in Week 16 of the QNB Stars League last week.
Ahead of Al Sadd’s high-voltage match against Al Rayyan in Week 17 of the QNB Stars League on 23rd February, Al Haydous spoke to QSL Online in an exclusive interview. Excerpts:
How do you see your game against Al Rayyan in Qatar Clasico?
It’s a tough game for both teams, especially since it’s coming when Qatar football is on a high after the Asian Cup triumph. At Al Sadd, we know the game’s importance. It’s about three points, which will help us maintain the first position in the table.
What’s the impact of winning the Asian Cup on Al Sadd players?
It made a great impact on the players and also boosted our confidence greatly. I hope to use this confidence to win all titles.
Do you think winning this tournament may help you achieve your targets this season, especially the league title?
Our target from the very beginning of the season is to regain the league title and we’ll strive for it with all our strength.
In your opinion, how will the competition with Al Duhail be in the next rounds?
The chase will continue until the last round. We target winning all remaining games as we march towards the title.
The match between Al Sadd and Al Rayyan has a special attraction. What’s your message to Al Sadd and Qatari fans?
Fans are our first supporters in all competitions and we bank on them in the Qatar Clasico as well.
Do Al Sadd have the ability to win as you did in the first leg, especially after Al Rayyan strengthened the squad in the January transfer window?
Each match has its own circumstances. We’ve to be in our best form to win and collect all three points.
Will the weight of expectations force you to lose points in the upcoming matches?
All our players are fully focused in order to win. Our main target against Al Rayyan is victory to stay at the top.
Finally, what’s your message to teammates as well as young players who felt very emotional after winning the Asian Cup?
They must continue to work with seriousness and concentration.
Source: qsl.qa